2011 - One little word...

(Read more about the "One Little Word" movement here.)

Content.

This is my one little word, my focus, for 2011.

As long as I can remember, I have been in a hurry for progress. As a child, I was in a hurry to grow up. As a teenager, I was in a hurry to move out on my own (so much so that I skipped the typical college experience in order to work full time to support myself.) As a young adult, I was in a hurry to get married. As a young married, I was in a hurry to buy a house, have children, etc. Newly into part-time ministry, I was in a hurry for a full-time position. Having purchased a fixer-upper home, I was in a hurry to fix it up. In fall, I'm ready for winter. In winter, I'm ready for spring. In spring, I'm ready for summer. In summer, I'm ready for fall... I've always desired the next stage of life, rarely stopping to enjoy my current season.

Thankfully, circumstances have often prevented me from moving at my desired pace. If we had children early on, our marriage might not have survived it. If we had gotten married on our own time-line, instead of waiting another year when our parents asked us to, we might not have survived that. This, to me, is evidence of God's grace and God's hand in my life - ushering that which needs to be ushered, and holding back those things that I think I want, but for which I am not prepared to handle.

So in 2011, I will focus on simply being content.

Do I want to begin our family? Oh sure. That's a given. But instead of feeling discontent with my place in life, I will choose to be content with the season in which God has placed me, and I will use it to bless others.

When ministry gets challenging, do I sometimes dream about being a housewife? Yes. But let's face it, I'd go crazy, and so instead of being restless, I will thank God that He has wired me to need some busyness in my life and to function well under stress.

Do I wish that my house was perfect, finished (and perhaps 400 sq. ft. larger)? Often... But instead of feeling dissatisfied, I will choose to see that we can even own a house on our modest income as a blessing and will do my best to make it a haven for my husband and those we love.

Contentment.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6

Happy New Year! May you find contentment in your own season.